The IACP/DuPont™ Kevlar® Survivors’ Club 2017 Update

The IACP/DuPont™ KEVLAR® Survivors’ Club® recognizes and honors those deserving individuals who, as a result of wearing personal body armor, have survived a life-threatening or life-disabling incident. The Survivors’ Club mission is to reduce death and disability by encouraging increased wearing of personal body … Continue reading →

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The IACP/DuPont KEVLAR® Survivors’ Club® recognizes and honors those deserving individuals who, as a result of wearing personal body armor, have survived a life-threatening or life-disabling incident. The Survivors’ Club mission is to reduce death and disability by encouraging increased wearing of personal body armor.

In 2017 the IACP and Dupont recognized 22 law enforcement officers as members of the IACP/DuPont KEVLAR® Survivors’ Club® because of surviving a life-threatening incident due to wearing their body armor.

This blog post list the first 11 officers who became members of the IACP/Dupont Kevlar® Survivors’ Club® in 2017. The remaining 2017 members will be highlighted in part two of this blog post.

Survivor: Officer Angela Sands

Agency: Lincoln, NE, Police Department

Date of Incident: November 29, 2015

Incident: While engaged in a physical altercation, Officer Sands was shot point blank above her heart, which her protective vest stopped, saving her life.

Survivor: Officer Alejandro Lagunas

Agency: Chicago, IL, Police Department

Date of Incident: March 14, 2016

Incident: While in plainclothes, Officer Lagunas and two others followed a fleeing suspicious person and all three officers were shot. Officer Lagunas was wearing body armor which prevented any life-threatening injuries.

Survivor: Officer Daniel Colwell

Agency: Chandler, AZ, Police Department

Date of Incident: April 23, 2016

Incident: While responding to a trespassing call, Officer Colwell was shot twice in his body armor, saving his life.

Survivor: Officer Kyle Carroll

Agency: Louisville Metro, KY, Police Department

Date of Incident: June 11, 2016

Incident: While attempting to arrest a fleeing suspect, Office Carroll was shot in the chest area of his vest, which saved his life.

Survivor: Deputy Sheriff Christopher Allende

Agency: Los Angeles, CA, Sheriff’s Department

Date of Incident: June 23, 2016

Incident: While assigned to a DUI checkpoint, Deputy Sheriff Allende stopped a vehicle driving erratically. He was shot three times, once in the chest area of his protective vest, saving his life.

Survivor: Officer Brandon Baranowski

Agency: Milwaukee, WI, Police Department

Date of Incident: July 17, 2016

Incident: Writing a citation in his car, Officer Baranowski was ambushed and shot numerous times. His ballistic vest protected him from two shots to his torso, saving his life.

Survivor: Officer David Fajardo

Agency: Clay Township, MI, Police Department

Date of Incident: August 29, 2016

Incident: While responding to a call, Office Fajardo was struck by a drunk driver. His protective vest reduced the impact of the colliding vehicles and prevented life-threatening injuries.

Survivor: Officer Ray Azucena

Agency: Fort Worth, TX, Police Department

Date of Incident: September 16, 2016

Incident: While investigating a shooting/possible suicide, Officer Azucena was shot in the chest area of his ballistic vest, which saved his life.

Survivor: Officer Xavier Serrano

Agency: Fort Worth, TX, Police Department

Date of Incident: September 16, 2016

Incident: Upon investigating a shooting/possible suicide, Officer Serrano was shot five times, one shot struck his protective vest, saving his life.

Survivor: Investigator Rusty Stanley

Agency: Floyd County, VA, Sheriff’s Office

Date of Incident: September 24, 2016

Incident: Responding to a domestic violence call, Investigator Stanley was shot both in his vest and his lower abdomen, preventing life-threatening injuries.

Survivor: Officer Jorge Tequida

Agency: Tucson, AZ, Police Department

Date of Incident: December 1, 2016

Incident: Attempting to locate and arrest a suspect on a warrant, Officer Tequida was hit with several shots, two of which struck his ballistic vest. He recovered from several life-threatening injuries.